arTicLE | The sOfT lifT |
Figure 3 40-year-old woman after injecting 0.3 ml Restylane Touch per side with the reinforced Pix’L+ microcannulae 28 in the oculofacial area. (A) before treatment and (B) 1 week post-treatment
and age, is very important for achieving the optimal
aesthetic results. The Pix’l range of flexible and rigid micro-cannulae provides mechanical resistance with high flexibility and easy insertion into the tissue with a special profile for the tip3
. for the use of the blunt Pix’l
cannula, it is necessary to primarily puncture the skin with a sharp cannula of the same diameter (or for easy handling one size larger than the cannula itself). The authors recommend tunnelling the dermis with the sharp needle using a fan technique, before changing to the longer and more flexible Pix’l cannula. Through a single-entry point the cannula can easily and safely penetrate the epidermis to reach the dermal layers and wider areas without discomfort to the patient. Avoid turning the needle more than 120–150°, otherwise there is a small risk of breaking the cannula. This is why tunnelling before treatment is so important; the microcannula should only dissect the dermal tissue layers, but not pass resistance. By using this method, small vessels and nerves become displaced and local damage is avoided. Afterwards, the hyaluronic acid gel can be injected smoothly using the anterograde or retrograde technique. The advantages of using this technique are low levels
of pain and tissue trauma, with a high quality of precision while injecting the material. As the approach is practically painless, the need for topical anaesthetics such as eMlA cream is not necessary, and the preparation time before the injection is reduced to only the disinfection of the treatment zone. however, the skin can be less elastic and quite difficult
18 ❚
Figure 4 47-year-old woman treated with full-face Soft Lift. Using neurotoxins to release the activity of the corrugator/ procerus muscles and the orbicularis muscle laterally (total 50 iu Vistabel). The mid-face was treated with 25 Pix’L cannula using Restylane Perlane (2 ml each side), by treating the medial and slightly lateral cheek and the most medial nasolabial fold at the same injection site. The lower eyelid fold was treated with 28 Pix’L cannula and Restylane Touch (0.5 ml/side). To rejuvenate the lower face, corners of the mouth, and the frontal chin line, the authors used the 25 Pix’L cannula with 1 ml Restylane Perlane at each site. Lastly, the authors refined the thinner facial lines in the corrugator and frontalis areas with 1 ml Restylane using the original sharp cannula. (A) before treatment, and (B) after 4 weeks
October 2011 |
prime-journal.com
to pass through 6–9 months after a facelift procedure, in skin with pronounced elastosis, after deep laser or chemical peel treatments, or following years of heavy acne episodes. in these cases the Pix’l cannula may not be the right instrument to use. While the Pixl’l micro-cannulae are very useful tools
to restore facial volume, frequently used and well tested techniques should not be ignored. for example, treating the nose with hyaluronic acid is a fantastic technique t o approach an holistic and full treatment of the oculofacial area, but using the flexible Pix’l cannula here may prove a disadvantage, so the working tool should be a sharp needle.
Results The authors restored the lack of volume in the face and were able to give radiance back to the skin using the Restylane products and the Pix’l cannula, combined with botulinum toxin A. for women aged in their late 30s, the soft lift concept
can potentially prevent early ageing by regularly refreshing the skin using Restylane Vital light (1–2 ml per side, using a 27 gauge cannula). At the same time, it is possible to prevent the mid-face from decreasing in volume by setting small volumes of Restylane/Perlane (1–1.5 ml per side) on the highest point of the cheekbones (Figures 2–4). By shaping the nasal area it is possible to create a more harmonious face with a little volume. Therefore, the use of a sharp needle has many
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